Trump granted approval to dismiss approximately 1,400 employees from the Department of Education
In a controversial decision, the Supreme Court has allowed President Donald Trump to proceed with his plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. The ruling, dated July 14-15, 2025, lifts a lower court injunction that had blocked mass layoffs and restructuring efforts, permitting the administration to proceed with firing about half of the Department's workforce [1][5].
The Education Department employees who were targeted by the layoffs have been on paid leave since March. Without Joun's order, they would have been terminated in early June [2]. The latest ruling enables the administration to resume work on winding down the department, with the potential of returning many of its functions "back to the states" [3].
The court's action has faced a strong dissent from three liberal justices, particularly Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who warned that disabling the Department risks "untold harm," including delaying or denying educational opportunities and leaving students vulnerable to discrimination, sexual assault, and civil rights violations without federal support [1].
Educational organizations and advocates have sharply criticized the ruling, predicting devastating impacts on special education, financial aid, and enforcement of civil rights laws. The National Education Association and the New Jersey Education Association stated the dismantling will lead to larger class sizes, cuts to job training and technical education programs, reduced access to higher education, and especially jeopardize special education services and protections for students with disabilities, LGBTQ+ students, and other marginalized groups [2][3][4].
In contrast, the Trump administration and some supporters argue that the President has executive authority over agency operations and staffing levels, framing the effort as a move toward efficiency and fiscal responsibility rather than outright abolition [2]. Education Secretary Linda McMahon lauded the decision, stating that the President has the ultimate authority to make decisions about staffing levels and day-to-day operations of federal agencies [5].
The lawsuits filed by Massachusetts cities and education groups over the plan will continue, as no court has yet ruled that what the administration wants to do is legal. Two consolidated lawsuits have been filed against Trump's plan, one by the Somerville and Easthampton school districts in Massachusetts along with the American Federation of Teachers and other education groups, and the other by a coalition of 21 Democratic attorneys general [2].
The federal appeals court refused to put the order on hold while the administration appealed. U.S. District Judge Myong Joun issued a preliminary injunction reversing the layoffs, but the administration's latest victory at the Supreme Court has now enabled them to reconsider the fate of the affected employees [2]. The Education Department is "actively assessing how to reintegrate" the employees, with a department email asking the employees to share whether they had gained other employment, saying the request was meant to "support a smooth and informed return to duty" [5].
President Trump announced on his social media platform that the high court's decision is a "Major Victory" for parents and students across the country. However, Justice Sotomayor, in dissent, complained that the court's decision enables legally questionable action on the part of the administration [1]. The lawsuits argue that layoffs leave the department unable to carry out responsibilities required by Congress, including duties to support special education, distribute financial aid, and enforce civil rights laws [2].
As the situation unfolds, educators, advocates, and affected parties will continue to closely monitor the developments and assess the potential impacts on students and the education system as a whole.
- The court's decision to allow President Trump to proceed with his plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, originally debated in the realm of policy-and-legislation and general-news, has sparked strong debates in the political sphere, with three liberal justices expressing significant dissent.
- The controversial ruling to lift the lower court injunction, enabling the administration to resume work on winding down the department, has generated fierce criticism from educational organizations and advocates, predicting possible detrimental effects on special education, financial aid, and civil rights enforcement.
